Go Fish-er
By Brittany Brownrigg, February 25, 2010
A simple bet between two eighth graders has led sophomore Joel Fisher to a six-year swimming career that is still going.
“If he played soccer, I’d swim,” Fisher said of his eighth grade bet.
Fisher went on to set a junior high swimming record in the 100-meter freestyle that year and has been swimming ever since.
Not only did he break junior high swimming records but high school records – in the 100-meter freestyle and as a member of two different relays – as well. Throughout his career at Cascade High School, Fisher was a four-sport athlete competing in football, track, soccer and swimming. He also held records in football, soccer and swimming throughout his career at Cascade.
Fisher left Cascade as the owner of the most letters of any athlete in school history. He earned all-conference honors in soccer, swimming and track and was all-state in football, while competing in high school. Fisher currently considers his main sport to be soccer, which he started around fifth grade.
Brian and Rachelle, Fisher’s parents, started the soccer program in his hometown of Clayton, IN, which led to a high school program.
“They wanted me to have a high school team by the time I got there,” Fisher said.
Through the soccer program that Fisher’s parents started, he was able to compete on his high school’s first soccer team. His parents continued to play an active role in his athletic career, which included coaching.
“My dad was always a coach of whatever I was in,” Fisher said.
Once Fisher reached his junior year of high school he faced injuries that continue to be a problem even today. In his junior year, Fisher fractured his spine during football season. The following year, he fractured his ankle after the soccer season.
In spite of his injuries, Fisher was able to earn many athletic accolades in high school. Fisher’s main goal after graduation was to play soccer in college and that is exactly what drew him to Franklin.
“I came here to play. Plus it was close to home,” Fisher said.
Fisher came to Franklin College as a soccer player thinking that his competitive swimming career was over. All of that changed when Franklin’s newly formed swim team asked him to join. Fisher said yes and had a good first season.
“We had a lot of fun (last year),” Fisher said. “It’s about having fun.”
Fisher swims the men’s 50- and 100-meter freestyle races and all the men’s relays. Next year, he will be the oldest swimmer on the team and brings high hopes with his experience.
“We definitely grew upon last year,” Fisher said. “We’re hoping to get more recruits in and get a little better … I hope that we can be competitive with all the other teams … We’re looking for people… (and) trying to grow.”
Fisher said head coach Andy Hendricks has worked hard to help the team in its formation.
“He does everything,” Fisher said. “He’s really involved in the program.”
In order for swimming and diving to be considered a sport, three HCAC teams must compete. Together, Transylvania University, the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Franklin, make up that qualification.
Fisher has two more years to see where the swim team can go. After college, he plans to use his degree in computer information systems to do computer programming somewhere in Indiana.
When Fisher has free time he enjoys working out and playing “Halo” on Xbox. Classic rock is Fisher’s favorite kind of music and Queen is his favorite band.
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